Shaping garment with fit-adjustable brassiere portion

ABSTRACT

Designing garments that include brassiere cups can be challenging due to the natural fluctuation of a woman&#39;s breast size, as well as a possible disconnect between the size of her breasts and the size of the rest of her body. The high range of size variability places pressure on stores to stock inventories that include great ranges of sizes. This places an inventory risk to the store, since rarer sizes may never sell. The disclosed garment addresses these issues by including a fit-adjustable brassiere portion. The cups of the fit-adjustable brassiere portion include fit-modifying panels that increase their flexibility and elasticity. The rear side of the fit-adjustable brassiere portion includes a back adjuster with highly elastic regions that enables the brassiere portion to fit a broader range of chest sizes. Each of these features give the garment a more universal fit and enable stores to carry fewer sizes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application62/492,464, filed May 1, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Special occasions often lead to the purchase of unique apparel that mayonly be used once or a few times. These garments can have interestingnecklines, back lines, breast padding, and long, embellished skirts andunderskirts that add weight. Shaping garments can be worn under thespecial occasion garment to smoothen and shape the wearer's overallsilhouette. Designing shaping garments for special occasions can beespecially challenging because they must be versatile enough to adapt tothe many types of unique features that special occasion apparel caninclude.

SUMMARY

Brassieres and other breast supporting garments are typicallyconstructed to fit a somewhat narrow range of breast sizes. However, onewoman's breast size can fluctuate, for example, with pregnancy, nursing,weight gain or loss, or hormonal changes. Women often purchase breastsupporting garments in multiple sizes to accommodate these fluctuations.Furthermore, designing breast supporting garments is a challenge due tothe possible disconnect between breast size and the size of other bodyparts. The high range of size variability places pressure on stores tostock inventories that include great ranges of sizes. This places aninventory risk to the store, since rarer sizes may never sell. Theseissues pose challenges when designing brassieres or shapewear to suitthe unique features of special occasion apparel. The disclosed breastsupporting garment addresses these issues by including a fit-adjustablebrassiere portion. The cups of the fit-adjustable brassiere portioninclude fit-modifying portions that increase their flexibility andelasticity. The rear side of the fit-adjustable brassiere portionincludes a back adjuster with highly elastic regions that enables thebrassiere portion to fit a broader range of chest sizes. Each of thesefeatures give the garment a more universal fit and enable stores tocarry fewer sizes.

Some embodiments of the garments disclosed herein include a front sideand a rear side, a left cup on the front side configured to support aleft breast, and a right cup on the front side configured to support aright breast. The left and right cups each include a main region and afit-modifying region that is fixedly or seamlessly attached to the mainregion. The fit-modifying regions are positioned laterally with respectto the main regions. The left and right fit-modifying regions each havea lower elastic modulus than the left and right main regions. Thegarments also include a torso-encircling portion that extends away fromthe left and right cups toward the rear side of the garment, at leastpartially defining a torso space.

The left and right fit-modifying portions can, in some embodiments, havetapered shapes. In some embodiments, the left and right fit-modifyingregions narrow as they extend downward toward a bottom edge of theirrespective cup. The fit-modifying regions can be elongated in aninferior to superior direction. In some embodiments, the fit-modifyingregions can extend inferiorly from a superior edge of the cup. They canbe fixedly or seamlessly attached to the main region of the cup. Fixedlyattached can be, for example, attached by bonding or by a sewn seam. Insome embodiments, the fit-modifying regions can have a smaller surfacearea than the main regions. In some embodiments, the left and rightfit-modifying regions can each include inner layer, an outer layer, andat least one layer of adhesive between the inner and outer layers. Theinner layer can, in some embodiments, be the same material as the outerlayer. In some embodiments, each of the left and right fit-modifyingregions includes a central layer positioned between the inner and outerlayers. The central layer can have a lower elastic modulus than theinner or outer layers. The central layer can be formed of at least 80%elastane. A first layer of adhesive can be positioned between the innerlayer and the central layer, and a second layer of adhesive can bepositioned between the central layer and the outer layer.

The garment can be constructed as shapewear, a brassiere, or a bustier.For example, the torso encircling portion can, in some embodiments, havea height that is less than the height of the left cup or the right cup.In other embodiments, the torso-encircling portion can extend downwardand away from the left and right cups to form an abdominal shapingregion on the front side of the garment and a back shaping region on therear side of the garment. In some embodiments, a lower region of thefront side of the garment includes a crotch portion and a lower regionon the rear side comprises a buttock shaping portion. The garment canalso define right and left leg spaces, or, in some embodiments, left andright pant legs.

The torso-encircling portion can include an outer component and an innercomponent that is attached to the outer component along a superior edgeof the garment. In some embodiments, an inferior area of the innercomponent is unattached to the outer component. The inner component canbe shorter in the longitudinal direction than the outer component, andat least a portion of the inner component can have a higher elasticmodulus than the outer component. The inner component can be thickerthan the outer component in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis extending through the torso space in superior to inferiordirection.

In some embodiments, the left and right cups include underwires that areattached to the inner component of the torso-encircling portion. Astabilizing panel can be used to connect the left underwire to the rightunderwire at an upper, central region of the front side of the garment.The outer component of the torso-encircling portion can attach to theleft and right underwires over the inner component and the stabilizingpanel.

In some embodiments, the torso-encircling portion connects the left andright cups to a back adjuster positioned on the rear side of thegarment. The back adjuster has a lower elastic modulus than at least thesuperior region of the torso-encircling portion. The back adjuster caninclude at least one closure mechanism and at least one highly elasticregion. In some embodiments, the closure mechanism is located betweenleft and right highly elastic regions. For example, the right lateraledge of the left highly elastic region can be attached to the left sideof a closure mechanism, and the left lateral edge of the left highlyelastic region can be attached to a portion of a garment having a higherelastic modulus than the left highly elastic region, and the leftlateral edge of the right highly elastic region can be attached to theright side of the closure mechanism, and the right lateral edge of theright highly elastic region is attached to a portion of the garmenthaving a higher elastic modulus than the right highly elastic region. Insome embodiments, the closure mechanism comprises at least one hook andeye. The eyes can be positioned on an outer side of the back adjusterand the hooks can curve toward an inner side of the back adjuster. Insome embodiments, the superior edge of the back shaping region extendsdownward to define lateral edges of a space in an upper, central area ofthe back shaping region. The back adjuster can bridge the lateral edgesof this space, and can define the superior edge of the space.

Methods of making the garments are also disclosed herein. In someembodiments, the method includes attaching a left lateral edge of a leftmain panel to a left fit-modifying panel that has a lower elasticmodulus than the left main panel, and attaching the left main panel andthe left fit-modifying panel to a left underwire to form a left cup. Themethod also includes attaching a right lateral edge of a right mainpanel to a right fit-modifying panel having a lower elastic modulus thanthe right main panel, and attaching the right main panel and the rightfit-modifying panel to a right underwire to form a right cup. In someembodiments, the left and right main panels are attached to the left andright fit-modifying panels using a zig zag stitch and a coverstitch. Themethod further includes attaching the right cup to the left cup.

In some embodiments, a fit-modifying panel is constructed by positioningan adhesive layer between a first fabric layer and a second fabriclayer, melting the adhesive layer between the first and second fabriclayers to form a fit-modifying fabric, and cutting the fit-modifyingfabric to form a left fit-modifying panel and a right fit-modifyingpanel. In some embodiments, a third fabric layer is positioned betweenthe first and second fabric layers. The third fabric layer can beconstructed of at least 80% elastane. The methods can further includepositioning the first adhesive layer between the first and third fabriclayers, positioning a second adhesive layer between the second and thirdfabric layers, melting the first and second adhesive layers between thefirst, second and third fabric layers to form the fit-modifying fabric,and cutting the fit-modifying fabric to form the left fit-modifyingpanel and the right fit-modifying panel. In some methods, pressure isapplied while melting the adhesive layers.

The methods of making the garments can also include attaching the rightcup to a torso-encircling portion, attaching the left cup to thetorso-encircling portion, and attaching the torso-encircling portion toa back adjuster. At least a portion of the back adjuster has a lowerelastic modulus than at least the superior region of thetorso-encircling portion. The method can include attaching a right wingof the torso-encircling portion to a right highly elastic region of theback adjuster, attaching a left wing of the torso-encircling portion toa left highly elastic region of the back adjuster, attaching either theright or left highly elastic region to an eye panel such that the eyesare positioned on the outer side of the back adjuster, and attaching theother of the right or left highly elastic region to a hook panel suchthat the hooks curve toward an inner side of the back adjuster.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the outside of a garment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a right side view of the outside of a garment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the outside of a garment.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of the inside of a garment havingbrassiere pads.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front view of the inside of a garment withoutbrassiere pads.

FIG. 5A illustrates a left side view of the inside of a garment havingbrassiere pads.

FIG. 5B illustrates a left side view of the inside of a garment withoutbrassiere pads.

FIG. 6A illustrates a rear view of the inside of a garment havingbrassiere pads.

FIG. 6B illustrates a rear view of the inside of a garment withoutbrassiere pads.

FIG. 7 illustrates various ways that the straps of a garment can beworn.

FIG. 8 illustrates the exterior of a brassiere cup of a breastsupporting garment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an interior view of an attachment between afit-modifying panel and a main panel of a brassiere cup of a garment.

FIG. 10A illustrates an interior view of a folded over superior edge ofa brassiere portion with brassiere pads and an attachment between afit-modifying panel and a main panel of a garment.

FIG. 10B illustrates an interior view of a folded over superior edge ofa brassiere portion without brassiere pads and an attachment between afit-modifying panel and a main panel of a garment.

FIG. 11A illustrates an interior view of a brassiere portion withbrassiere pads.

FIG. 11B illustrates an interior view of a brassiere portion withbrassiere pads.

FIG. 12 illustrates a rear view of a garment off a wearer (left side)and on a wearer (right side).

FIG. 13 illustrates a back adjuster.

FIG. 14 illustrates method steps for making a fit-modifying panel (toprow). The bottom row illustrates front (left) and side (right) views offinished brassiere cups including fit-modifying panels.

FIG. 15 illustrates an interior view of a left wing.

FIG. 16 illustrates the direction that the fabric of the outer componentis cut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Designing breast supporting garments can be challenging due to thenatural fluctuation of a woman's breast size over time. Designing breastsupporting shapewear can be especially challenging due to variabilitybetween cup size, band size, and body size. The high range of sizevariability places pressure on stores to stock inventories that includegreat ranges of sizes, even if they are rare. This places an inventoryrisk to the store, since some of these sizes may never sell.

The disclosed garment addresses these issues by including afit-adjustable brassiere portion. The cups of the fit-adjustablebrassiere portion include fit-modifying panels that increase theirflexibility and elasticity. The rear side of the fit-adjustablebrassiere portion includes a back adjuster with highly elastic regionsthat enables the brassiere portion to fit a broader range of chestsizes. Each of these features give the garment a more universal fit andenables stores to carry fewer sizes.

This description refers to certain aspects of the garment relative toother aspects of the garment or to the body of a wearer. As used herein,superior indicates a direction that is closer to the wearer's head.Inferior indicates a direction that is closer to the wearer's feet.Upward, upper, or uppermost indicates a superior direction, or toward awearer's head. Downward, lower, or lowermost indicates an inferiordirection, or toward a wearer's feet. The longitudinal direction refersto an axis extending between the superior and inferior edges of thegarment, or between the wearer's head and feet. Lateral indicates apositioning that is closer to the sides of the wearer. Medial indicatesa positioning that is farther from the sides of the wearer. The termsright and left are in reference to the wearer's body. Some of thefigures include the letters R and L as right and left directionalindicators.

FIGS. 1-3 show exterior views of the garment 1. FIG. 1. shows the frontside 3 of a particular embodiment. The garment 1 is shown as a bodysuitwith pant legs, but in other embodiments the garment 1 could be apantless bodysuit, a bustier, or a brassiere alone. The garment 1includes a fit-adjustable brassiere portion 5. The fit-adjustablebrassiere portion 5 includes a left cup 7 and a right cup 9. Each cupincludes left and right main panels 11, 13, left and right fit-modifyingpanels 15, 17, and left and right underwires 19, 21.

A torso-encircling portion 6 includes the fit-adjustable brassiereportion 5 and extends away from the left and right cups 7, 9 and towardthe rear side 33 of the garment 1 to at least partially define a torsospace. The torso-encircling portion 6 of the illustrated embodimentincludes an abdominal shaping region 37, a back shaping region 39, acrotch portion 31, and a buttock shaping portion 57 (shown in FIG. 3).The garment 1 can include left and right pant legs 25, 27, as shown inFIG. 1. In some embodiments, the pant legs can be raw cut or free cut soas to reduce visibility and increase comfort. In some embodiments, suchas when the garment 1 is a brassiere alone, the torso-encircling portion6 can be shorter in the longitudinal direction than the height of thecups 7, 9. Other embodiments, such as when the garment 1 is a bustier,can include a torso-encircling portion 6 that includes the brassiereportion 5, the abdominal shaping region 37, and the back shaping region39, without the crotch portion 31, buttock shaping portions 57, and leftand right pant legs 25, 27.

In some embodiments, the garment can include a specialized construction,or gusset 29, in the crotch portion 31. The gusset 29 can enable thewearer to use the bathroom without removing garment 1. Specializedgussets 29 are described elsewhere, such as in U.S. Patent ApplicationNos. 62/491,756 and 15/964,516, which are incorporated by reference intheir entireties. For example, the gusset can include an access space,or a void in the garment 1, that enables the wearer to use the restroomwithout removing the garment 1. In some embodiments, the access spacecan be partially covered by two side cover panels that extend from theright and left leg portions inward to partially or completely cover theaccess space. The side cover panels can be formed seamlessly with otherparts of the garment 1, or they can be fixedly attached, for example, bysewing or bonding. In some embodiments, the gusset can include a highlystretchable panel of material that extends from the front of the garmentto the back, over the access space, in the crotch region 31. The highlystretchable panel of material may be included with or without the sidecover panels. It can be formed seamlessly with other parts of thegarment 1, or may be fixedly attached, for example, by sewing orbonding. The highly stretchable panel of material has a high degree ofelongation and recovery, such that it can be moved with just one handand easily put back into place when finished.

FIG. 3 shows the exterior of the rear side 33 of garment 1, and FIG. 2shows a right side exterior view of the garment 1. The brassiere portion5 includes a back adjuster 35, shown in the dotted circled region.Portions of the back adjuster 35 have a lower elastic modulus (greaterstretch) than at least the superior region 87 of the torso-encirclingportion 6, and will be described in greater detail when discussing FIGS.12 and 13, below.

FIGS. 4A-6A show interior views of the front, side, and rear of garment1, respectively. The garment is illustrated as if it is inside out. Thecircled region of FIG. 4A shows the stabilizing panel 45 that extendsbetween the left underwire 19 and the right underwire 21 of the fitadjustable brassiere portion 5. The stabilizing panel 45 is described ingreater detail when discussing FIG. 11, below. The brassiere portion 5includes a left wing 41 and a right wing 43, as shown in FIGS. 5A and6A. The seams of the interior, such as the side seams, inseams, and theback seam, can be overlock seams in some embodiments. Seams along theunderwire can be continuous top stitches. Certain embodiments of thegarment can include brassiere pads 67, 69 as shown in FIGS. 4A-6A. Otherembodiments of the garment can be constructed without brassiere pads asshown in FIGS. 4B, 5B, and 6B.

FIG. 5A shows the interior view of the left side of the garment. Fromthe interior view, it is possible to see the details of left wing 41 ofthe brassiere portion 5. The left (and right) wings 41, 43 include asuperior area 47, a middle area 49, and an inferior area 51. A left wingis shown in greater detail in FIG. 15. FIG. 6A shows the interior viewof the rear side 33 of the garment. From the interior views, it is clearthat the torso-encircling portion 6 has both an inner component 53 andan outer component 55. In the embodiment shown, the inner component 53comprises the brassiere wings 41, 43. The inner component 53 and outercomponent 55 are attached to each other to form the superior edge 85 ofthe garment 1, as shown in FIG. 5A. However, the inferior area 51 of theinner component 53 can remain unattached to the outer component 55 togive the garment 1 a seamless look from the outside.

Both the inner and outer components 53, 55 are attached to the left andright underwires 19, 21 of the brassiere portion 5. In the embodimentshown, the middle and inferior areas 49, 51 of the inner component 53start at the brassiere cup and continue to the back adjuster 35 withoutbeing stitched into a side seam of the garment 1. The inner component 53is shorter than the outer component 55 in the longitudinal direction,and is not visible from the outside of the garment. The inner component53 can also be thicker than outer component 55 (in a directionperpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the torso spaceof the garment). At least the superior area 47 of the inner component 53is stiffer, being formed of a material having a higher elastic modulusthan the outer component 55, which aids in keeping the garment 1 fromsliding down the torso of the wearer. In some embodiments, a highfriction coating, such as a silicone bead, may be applied to a portionof the inner component to prevent sliding. For example, a silicone stripcan be applied along the interior surface of the superior area 47 of theinner component 53.

The outer component 55 extends downward past the inferior area 51 of theinner component 53 and around to the rear side 33 of the garment 1,forming the abdominal shaping region 37 and the back shaping region 39of the torso-encircling portion 6. In some embodiments, the outercomponent 55 is the only layer of fabric in the abdominal and backshaping regions 37, 39. The outer component 55, can, in someembodiments, be a knit material, for example, a warp knit. In someembodiments, the outer component 55 can be a tricot material. In someembodiments, the outer component 55 can be a microfiber material. Insome embodiments, the outer component 55 can include nylon and elastane,for example, 49% nylon and 51% elastane. The outer component can, insome embodiments, be about 190 grams per square inch. The fabric of theouter component 55 can be cut as shown in FIG. 16. For example, if thefabric is a knit fabric, the courses can be aligned lengthwise in asuperior to inferior direction along the garment 1.

The garment 1 can also include right and left straps 23, 24, which maybe worn in a variety of ways, as shown in FIG. 7, or not at all in thecase of a strapless garment. For example, in some embodiments, thestraps can be worn five ways (halter, racer back, traditional, crisscross, or strapless). The superior, interior area of the back shapingregion 39 can include a number of strap tabs 22 at various intervalsalong the edge to allow the straps to be worn in these differentconfigurations. In some embodiments, there are a total of six strap tabs22. Straps 23, 24 can be the same color as the garment, or in someembodiments, the straps 23, 24 can be transparent. The garment 1 and thestraps 23, 24 can be supplied to the wearer as a package, along with astrap converter that holds the straps in the center of the back whenthey are used in the criss cross position.

FIG. 8 shows an exterior view of the right main panel 13 and the rightfit-modifying panel 17 of right brassiere cup 9. Fit-modifying panels15, 17 have a lower elastic modulus than main panels 11, 13, enablingcups 7, 9 to stretch to fit a broader range of breast sizes thanpossible with conventional construction techniques. For one exampleembodiment, tension and elongation test ASTM D4964, particularly ASTMD4964 1996 (2008) (tensile testing machine, constant rate of extension),was used to measure mechanical properties. Briefly, a loop specimen of250 mm in loop length is placed around the clamps of a testing machine.The machine speed is 500 mm/min. The specimen is cycled three times fromzero to 100 N load. During the third extension-load cycle, the percentelongation is measured, as is the tension at 30%, 50%, and 70%elongation. Tests were performed on (A) the fabric including the mainpanel and the fit-modifying panel (attached to each other by sewing),and (B) the fabric used to make the main panel (not including afit-modifying panel). For the fabric that included both the main paneland the fit modifying panel, the elongation averaged 155%, and themodulus at 50% elongation was 1.48 Newtons. For the fabric that onlyincluded the main panel (unattached to a fit-modifying panel), theelongation averaged 127%, and the modulus at 50% elongation was 4.86Newtons. The inclusion of the fit-modifying panel decreased theelongation under the same load, indicating that the fit-modifying panelhas a lower elastic modulus than the main panel. These numbers listedabove are for one example embodiment. In other embodiments, theelongation of fabric that includes both a main panel and a fit-modifyingpanel could range from 100% to 170%, and the modulus at 50% could rangefrom 0.6 Newtons to 1.6 Newtons.

The fit-modifying panels extend inferiorly from the superior edge of thebra cup, allowing the bra cup to expand to accommodate a larger breastsize. The material of the fit-modifying panel has a high recovery, whichalso allows for decreases in the wearer's breast size over time. In theembodiments shown, the fit-modifying panels 15, 17 are elongated in theinferior to superior direction and positioned laterally with respect tothe main panels. The fit-modifying panels 15, 17 have tapered shapesthat narrow as they extend downward toward the bottom edges of the cups7, 9. However, it is envisioned that the fit-modifying panels could varyin shape, or could be located at different positions relative to themain panel. Some embodiments of the exterior of the brassiere cup 9,such as the one shown in FIG. 8, have a clean, seamless look. The fabriccovering the brassiere cup 9 can be, in some embodiments, the samefabric used for outer component 55, to provide a clean overall look tothe outside of the garment 1. The seam 63 connecting the fit-modifyingpanel 17 to the main panel 13 can include a variety of different stitchtypes. In one embodiment, the seam 63 connecting the fit-modifying panelto the main panel of the cup can include zig-zag stitching, coverstitching, or a combination thereof. The fabric covering the brassierecup 9 can, in some embodiments, be extended over the exterior surface ofthe seam 63 between the fit-modifying panel and the main panel. Thesuperior edge 65 of main panel 17 can be folded over and bonded to innerside 61 to enhance the seamless look, as shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B.While FIGS. 8-10 depict the construction of the main panel 17 andfit-modifying panel 13 as it applies to the right cup 9, it should beunderstood that the left cup 7 can be constructed in a similar manner.FIG. 10A shows a brassiere cup 9 with a brassiere pad 69, whereas FIG.10B shows a brassiere cup 9 without a brassiere pad. In otherembodiments, the fit-modifying panel could be bonded to the main panel,for example, with resins or adhesives. The fit-modifying panel isfixedly attached to the main panel in the embodiments described above,either by sewing or by bonding. However, the cup could also beconstructed seamlessly. In a seamless cup embodiment, a main region anda fit-modifying region are constructed of one continuous piece offabric, with the fit-modifying region seamlessly attached to the mainregion. The fit-modifying region has a lower elastic modulus than themain region, for example, due to different yarns, stitching patterns, orknit tightness.

FIG. 11A shows the interior of the front side 3 of the brassiere portion5 of garment 1. The stabilizing panel 45 at the upper, central region ofthe front side of the garment 1 extends between the left and rightunderwires 19, 21 and underneath the outer component 55. The stabilizingpanel 45 provides additional breast support by limiting movement of thecups relative to each other. The brassiere cups 7, 9 can also includeleft and right brassiere pads 67, 69. However, certain embodiments ofthe garment 1 can be made without brassiere pads, as shown in FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12 shows the rear side 33 of the garment 1, both on a wearer (rightside) and off a wearer (left side). The back adjuster 35 embodimentshown includes left and right highly elastic regions 71, 73 and aclosure mechanism 75 located between the elastic regions. The highlyelastic regions 71, 73 can be attached to the closure mechanism 75 by,for example, a zig zag stitch. In other embodiments, the back adjuster35 could have just one highly elastic region, three highly elasticregions, or more. The highly elastic regions can, in some embodiments,be formed from the same material as the inferior area 51 of the left andright wings 41, 43. The highly elastic regions 71, 73 can be extensionsof the inferior areas 51 of the wings 41, 43. Alternatively, the highlyelastic regions can separate pieces than the inferior areas 51 of thewing, but stitched directly to the wing. The elastic modulus of thehighly elastic regions 71, 73 is lower than the elastic modulus of wings41, 43 due to the additional structural support granted by thehigher-modulus superior area 47 of the wings. The highly elastic regions71, 73 help to accommodate a large variation in band sizes (i.e. chestdiameters as measured around the rib cage, under the breasts).

The back adjuster 35 could include multiple closure mechanisms. Theclosure mechanism can be, in some embodiments, at least one hook and eyeclosure 77, as shown in FIG. 13. In the embodiment shown, the eyes areon the outer side of the back adjuster 35, and the hooks curve inwardtoward the inner side of the back adjuster 35. Other types of closuremechanisms are also possible.

As shown in FIG. 12, the superior edges 85 of the garment 1 extenddownward at the back shaping region 39, defining the lateral edges 91 ofa space 89 in an upper, central area of the back shaping region 39. Backadjuster 35 bridges the lateral edges 91 of the space 89, defining thesuperior edge 93 of space 89. The highly elastic regions 71, 73 stretchand the space 89 in the upper, central area of the back shaping region39 widens to fit the wearer. The space in the embodiment shown isU-shaped, but it is envisioned that the space could be V-shaped or takeany other shape that enables the garment to widen in the upper centralarea of the back shaping region 39. This enables garment 1 to fit abroader range of sizes than is possible using conventional shapewearconstruction techniques.

FIG. 15 shows an interior view of a left wing. The superior area 47 isan elastic band that is attached to the outer component 55 along thesuperior edge of the garment. The inferior area 51 is a separate elasticband that, in this particular embodiment, is wider than the superiorarea 47. The middle area 49 extends between and is attached to thesuperior area 47 and the inferior area 51. In some embodiments,reinforcing rods (i.e., bones) 97 can be provided between the innercomponent 53 and the outer component 55. The bones can be encased in acasing, and the casing sewn to the garment. They can extend in asuperior to inferior direction along part or all of the bra wing.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic for an example method of making thefit-modifying panels 15, 17 using a hot melt technique. Eachfit-modifying panel has a first, inner fabric layer 79, a second, outerfabric layer 83, and at least one adhesive layer 81 positioned betweenthe inner and outer fabric layers 79, 83, as shown in FIG. 14. Thefirst, inner fabric layer 79 and the second, outer fabric layer 83 canbe formed of the same or of different materials. In some embodiments,the inner and outer fabric layers 79, 83 of the overall fit-modifyingfabric 95 (which includes the adhesive layer) are formed of the samematerial as outer component 55.

Some embodiments of the fit-modifying panels 15, 17 can have a third,central fabric layer (not shown) and two adhesive layers. The firstadhesive layer is positioned between the first, inner fabric layer 79and the third, central fabric layer, and the second adhesive layer ispositioned between the second, outer fabric layer 83 and the third,central fabric layer. The third, central fabric layer can be formed of amaterial with higher elasticity than the first, inner fabric layer orthe second, outer fabric layer of the fit-modifying panels 15, 17. Forexample the third, central fabric layer can be formed of a material thatis at least 80% elastane. In some embodiments, the third, central fabriclayer can be 83% elastane and 17% nylon Powermesh material that weights90 grams per square inch. Or, in some embodiments, the third, centrallayer can be 100% elastane.

Referring again to FIG. 14, the layers of fabric and adhesive aresubjected to heat in order to melt the adhesive layers and formfit-modifying fabric 95. In some embodiments the layers of fabric andadhesive can also be subjected to pressure during the melting step. Thepressure can be applied using a heat press, as shown in FIG. 14, or canalso be applied using a conveyer system. The fit-modifying panels 15, 17are then cut out of the fit-modifying fabric 95. For embodiments using athird, central layer, the method is adapted as follows: the first andsecond adhesive layers are adhered to the first, inner layer fabric andto the second, outer layer fabric. The central, third layer ispositioned between the first and second adhesive-layer-treated inner andouter layers, with glue dots facing the third, central layer. The layersare bonded using heat and, in some embodiments, pressure. Thefit-modifying panel 17 is then cut from the bonded layers of thefit-modifying fabric 95.

Further disclosed herein are methods of making fit-flexible breastsupporting garments. Referring to FIG. 9, the methods include attachinga lateral edge 59 of a main panel 13 to the lateral edge a fit-modifyingpanel 17, for example, by stitching. The stitching can be, for example,a zig-zag stitch, a cover stitch, or a combination of both. In someembodiments, the lateral edge 59 of the main panel is brought intocontact with the medial edge of the fit-modifying panel, and a zig-zagstitch is applied over the interface. A cover stitch is then appliedover the zig zag stitch at the interface of the fit-modifying panel 17and the main panel 13, creating seam 63. In some embodiments, a separatefabric is extended over the outer side of the cup 9, including over seam63. The separate fabric can be bonded to the fit-modifying panel 17 toensure coverage of the seam 63. The separate fabric can be, for example,the same fabric used to make outer component 55.

The main panel 13 and the fit-modifying panel 17 are attached to anunderwire 21, as shown in FIG. 10. Though FIGS. 9-10 show a right cup,it is to be understood that similar methods apply to the left cup of thegarment 1. The left and right cups 7, 9 are attached to each other, anda stabilizing panel 45 is also attached between the left and right cups7, 9, as shown in FIG. 11. The left and right cups 7, 9 are attached toa torso-encircling portion 6, as shown in FIG. 5, and thetorso-encircling portion 6 is attached to a back adjuster 35, as shownin FIG. 12. Particularly, in some embodiments, the right wing 43 of thetorso-encircling portion 6 is attached to a right highly elastic region73 of the back adjuster 35, and the left wing 41 attached to the lefthighly elastic region 71 of the back adjuster 35. In some embodiments,either the left or right highly elastic region 71, 73 is attached to aneye panel, and the other of the left or right highly elastic regions 71,73 is attached to a hook panel. The hooks curve inward toward an innerside of the back adjuster 35, and the eyes are positioned on the outerside of back adjuster 35. As described above, at least the highlyelastic regions 71, 73 the back adjuster 35 have a lower elastic modulusthan at least a superior region of the torso-encircling portion 6.

In some embodiments, the wings 41, 43 can be attached to the outercomponent 55 of the garment 1 as follows. The top edge of the superiorarea 47 is aligned to the top edge of the outer component 55. Thesuperior area 47 is lapped to the outer component 55 and stitched toboth ply with a zig zag stitch. The superior area 47 is then turned tothe inside of the garment 1 and the bottom edge of the superior area 47is stitched to the outer component 55 with a zig zag stitch.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theimplementation was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious implementations with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A garment comprising; a front side and a rear side, a left cup and aright cup positioned on the front side of the garment, the left andright cups configured to support the left and right breasts of a wearer,a torso-encircling portion that connects the left and right cups to aback adjuster positioned on the rear side of the garment, wherein atleast a portion of the back adjuster has a lower elastic modulus than asuperior region of the torso-encircling portion.
 2. The garment of claim1, wherein the back adjuster comprises at least one closure mechanismand at least one highly elastic region.
 3. The garment of claim 2,wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one hook and at leastone eye, wherein the eyes are positioned on an outer side of the backadjuster and the hooks curve toward an inner side of the back adjuster.4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the torso-encircling portion extendsdownward and away from the left and right cups to form an abdominalshaping region on the front side of the garment and a back shapingregion on the rear side of the garment.
 5. The garment of claim 4,wherein a superior edge of the back shaping region extends downward todefine lateral edges of a space in an upper, central area of the backshaping region, and wherein the back adjuster bridges the lateral edgesof the space.
 6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the back adjusterdefines the superior edge of the space in the upper, central area of theback shaping region.
 7. The garment of claim 4, wherein thetorso-encircling portion comprises an outer component and an innercomponent attached to the outer component along a superior edge of thegarment, wherein the inner component is shorter than the outer componentin the longitudinal direction, and wherein an inferior area of the innercomponent is unattached to the outer component.
 8. The garment of claim4, wherein; a lower region of the front side comprises a crotch portion,a lower region of the rear side comprises a buttock shaping portion, andwherein the garment defines right and left leg spaces.
 9. The garment ofclaim 4, wherein the torso-encircling portion comprises an outercomponent and an inner component attached to the outer component along asuperior edge of the garment, wherein the inner component has a higherelastic modulus than the outer component and is shorter in thelongitudinal direction than the outer component.
 10. The garment ofclaim 9, further comprising a longitudinal axis extending through thetorso space in a superior to inferior direction, wherein the innercomponent is thicker than the outer component in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
 11. The garment of claim 9,wherein the left cup further comprises a left underwire attached to theinner component of the torso-encircling portion and the right cupfurther comprises a right underwire attached to the inner component ofthe torso-encircling portion.
 12. The garment of claim 11, furthercomprising a stabilizing panel connecting the left underwire to theright underwire at an upper, central region of the front side of thegarment, wherein the outer component of the torso-encircling portionattaches to the left underwire and the right underwire over the innercomponent and the stabilizing panel.
 13. The garment of claim 1, whereinthe left cup further comprises a left main region and a leftfit-modifying region attached along a left lateral edge of the left mainregion, and the right cup further comprises a right main region and aright fit-modifying region attached along a right lateral edge of theright main region, wherein the left fit-modifying region has a lowerelastic modulus than the left main region and the right fit-modifyingregion has a lower elastic modulus than the right main region.
 14. Thegarment of claim 13, wherein the left fit-modifying region and the rightfit-modifying region both have tapered shapes that narrow as they extenddownward toward a bottom edge of the left cup.
 15. The garment of claim1, wherein each of the left and right fit-modifying regions comprise aninner layer, an outer layer, and at least one layer of adhesive betweenthe inner and outer layers.
 16. The garment of claim 15, wherein theleft fit-modifying region is attached to the left main region and theright fit-modifying region is attached to the right main region.
 17. Thegarment of claim 15, wherein each of the left and right fit-modifyingregions comprises a central layer positioned between the inner and outerlayers and having a lower elastic modulus than the inner or outerlayers.
 18. The garment of claim 17, further comprising a first layer ofadhesive between the inner layer and the central layer and a secondlayer of adhesive between the central layer and the outer layer.
 19. Amethod of making a fit-flexible breast-supporting garment, the methodcomprising, attaching a right cup to a torso-encircling portion,attaching a left cup to a torso-encircling portion, attaching thetorso-encircling portion to a back adjuster, wherein at least a portionof the back adjuster has a lower elastic modulus than at least thesuperior region of the torso-encircling portion.
 20. The method of claim19, wherein attaching the torso-encircling portion to a back adjusterfurther comprises, attaching a right wing of the torso-encirclingportion to a right highly elastic region of the back adjuster, attachinga left wing of the torso-encircling portion to a left highly elasticregion of the back adjuster, attaching either the right or left highlyelastic region to an eye panel such that the eyes are positioned on theouter side of the back adjuster, and attaching the other of the right orleft highly elastic region to a hook panel such that the hooks curvetoward an inner side of the back adjuster.
 21. The method of claim 19,further comprising forming the left cup by attaching a left lateral edgeof a left main panel to a left fit-modifying panel having a lowerelastic modulus than the left main panel, and attaching the left mainpanel and the left fit-modifying panel to a left underwire, forming theright cup by attaching a right lateral edge of a right main panel to aright fit-modifying panel having a lower elastic modulus than the rightmain panel, and attaching the right main panel and the rightfit-modifying panel to a right underwire, and attaching the right cup tothe left cup.
 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising forming theleft and right fit-modifying panels prior to attaching the left andright fit-modifying panels to the left and right main panels, whereinforming the left and right fit-modifying panels comprises, positioningat least one adhesive layer between a first fabric layer and a secondfabric layer, melting the adhesive layer between the first and secondfabric layers to form a fit-modifying fabric, and cutting thefit-modifying fabric to form a left fit-modifying panel and a rightfit-modifying panel.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein attaching theleft main panel to the left fit-modifying panel further comprisesstitching the left-fit modifying panel to the inner side of the leftlateral edge using a zig zag stitch and a coverstitch, and whereinattaching the right main panel to the right fit-modifying panel furthercomprises stitching the right-fit modifying panel to the inner side ofthe right lateral edge using a zig zag stitch and a coverstitch.
 24. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising positioning a third fabric layerbetween the first and second fabric layers, the third fabric layercomprising at least 80% elastane, positioning a first adhesive layerbetween the first and third fabric layers, positioning a second adhesivelayer between the second and third fabric layers, melting the first andsecond adhesive layers between the first, second and third fabric layersto form the fit-modifying fabric, and cutting the fit-modifying fabricto form the left fit-modifying panel and the right fit-modifying panel.25. A back adjuster for use in a fit-flexible breast supporting garment,the back adjuster comprising: a closure mechanism; a left highly elasticregion; a right highly elastic region; wherein a right lateral edge ofthe left highly elastic region is attached to the left side of theclosure mechanism, and a left lateral edge of the left highly elasticregion is attached to a portion of a breast supporting garment having ahigher elastic modulus than the left highly elastic region; and whereina left lateral edge of the right highly elastic region is attached tothe right side of the closure mechanism, and a right lateral edge of theright highly elastic region is attached to a portion of a breastsupporting garment having a higher elastic modulus than the right highlyelastic region.